In the sunlit halls of the C4E Forum 2025 in Cavtat, one name stood out among Europe’s climate champions: Irena Križ Šelendić.
The Croatian public servant was crowned C4E Champion for her visionary work in energy efficiency—an accolade reserved for true leaders shaping the region’s green future.
As director at the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets, Križ Šelendić has transformed policies into progress, spearheading the renovation of schools, hospitals, and public buildings across Croatia.
A cornerstone of the nation’s energy strategy, she has helped build regulatory frameworks, national renovation plans, and measures tackling energy poverty.
Her influence stretches from Zagreb to Brussels, where she serves on EU working groups advancing sustainability directives.
She said the award honoured the work of many, emphasising that while buildings might be made of bricks and mortar, the mission was ultimately about people.
Her leadership, she noted, was not just reshaping skylines—but improving lives.
